N
NamyLab

California

female
Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Pure/Rejoice"

Taken from the toponym, the name derives from early Spanish literary and colonial usage, with no settled lexical meaning.

Themes:placenamestatenameliterarymodernunusual
UniqueRare

Fact-checked by Lily Anderson

M.F.A. Creative Writing, Sarah LawrencePublished NovelistName Collection Curator • Creative Names Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of California

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#15674Ranked nationally
SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Selected Year Rank
Unranked

California did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year
--

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

California Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for California.

10 ideas
Calie
Nickname
Cali
Nickname
cali
Nickname
caly
Nickname
cie
Nickname
cy
Nickname
co
Nickname
lify
Nickname
ca
Nickname
niay
Nickname

Similar Names to California

female

Ann

“Grace, Favor”

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Anita

“Grace Favor”

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Annette

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Agnes

“Pure”

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Arlene

“Pledge or Promise”

#1798
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Ana

“Grace”

#204
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Antoinette

“Priceless One”

#2882
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Alberta

“Noble; Bright”

#10281
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Adrienne

“From Hadria”

#1455
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Alisha

“Noble”

#1137
|Hebrew

Baby Name Lists That Include California

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes California, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

14 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name California mean?
California means "Pure/Rejoice". Taken from the toponym, the name derives from early Spanish literary and colonial usage, with no settled lexical meaning
What is the origin of California?
California is of Spanish origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.
How popular is the name California?
According to the latest SSA data, California is currently ranked #15674 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.
Is California a girl name?
California is traditionally a girl name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.
What are good nicknames for California?
Popular nicknames for California include Calie, Cali, cali, caly, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.
What names are similar to California?
There are many names similar to California in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginSpanish, Literary
Syllables5
Length10 letters
US Rank#15674
Trend↓ Falling
Starts withC

Sibling Ideas

Explore More Girl Names Like California

California has Spanish roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Spanish baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

California appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Unique Baby Names and Spanish Baby Names for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean The Sun for Boys and Girls and Names That Mean Miracle And Blessing for Boys and Girls.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how California pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement California beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.